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INGRESS, 

ission. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 



Report 
No. 1. 



WAR WITH THE IMPERJ1L GERMAN GOVERNMENT. 



April 4, 1917.- 



-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the 
Union and ordered to be printed. 



14 . % ' - 

Mr. Flood, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, submitted the 

following 



KEJPOflT. 

[To accompany H. J. Res. 24.] 

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to which was referred the joint 
resolution (H. J. Res. 24) declaring that a state of war exists between 
the Imperial German Government and the Government and people 
of the United States, and making provision to prosecute the same, 
having had the same under consideration, reports it back with amend- 
ment, and recommends that the resolution, as amended, do pass. 

Page 1, strike out all after the title, and insert in lieu thereof the 
following : 

Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war 
against the Government and people of the United States of America : Therefore be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 
Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial 
German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby 
formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and di- 
rected to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the 
resources of this Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Govern- 
ment; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all of the resources of the 
country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States. 

It is with the deepest sense of responsibility of the momentous 
results which will follow the passage of this resolution that your 
committee reports it to the House, with the recommendation that it 
be passed. 

The conduct of the Imperial German Government toward this 
Government, its citizens, and its interests has been so discourteous, 
unjust, cruel, barbarous, and so lacking in honesty and fair dealing 
that it has constituted a violation of the course of conduct which 
should obtain between friendly nations. 

In addition to this, the German Government is actually making 
war upon the people and the commerce of this country, and leaves 
no course open to this Government but to accept its gauge of battle, 
declare that a state of war exists, and wage that war vigorously. 



^6333 



2 WAR WITH THE IMPERIAL GERMAN GOVERNMENT. 

On the 31st day of January, 1917, notice was given by the Imperial 
German Government to this Government that after the following 
day- 
Germany will meet the illegal measures of her enemies by forcibly preventing, in a 
zone around Great Britain, France, Italy, and in the eastern Mediterranean, all navi- 
gation, that of neutrals included, from and to England and from and to France, etc. 
All ships met within that zone will be sunk. 

Since that day seven American ships flying the American flag 
have been sunk and between 25 and 30 American lives have been 
lost as a result of the prosecution of the submarine warfare in accord- 
ance with the above declaration. This is war. War waged by the 
Imperial German Government upon this country and its people. 

A brief review of some of the hostile and illegal acts of the German 
Government toward this Government and its officers and its people 
is herewith given. 

Germany's conduct of submarine warfare. 

In the memorial of the Imperial German Government accom- 
panying its proclamation of February 4, 1915, in regard to sub- 
marine warfare, that Government declared — 

* * * the German Navy has received instructions to abstain from all violence 
against neutral vessels recognizable as such. 

In the note of the German Government dated February 16, 1915, 
in reply to the American note of February 10, it was declared that — 

It is very far indeed from the intention of the German Government * * * ever 
to destroy neutral lives and neutral property. * * * The commanders of German 
submarines have been instructed, as was already stated in the note of the 4th instant, 
to abstain from violence to American merchant ships when they are recognizable as 
such. 

Nevertheless the German Government proceeded to carry out its 
plans of submarine warfare and torpedoed the British passenger 
steamer Falaba on March 27, 1915, when one American life was lost, 
attacked the American steamer Cushing April 28 by airship, and 
made submarine attacks upon the American tank steamer GuljligM 
May 1 , the British passenger liner Lusitania May 7 when 114 American 
lives were lost, and the American steamer Nehraskan on May 25, in 
all of which over 125 citizens of the United States lost their lives, 
not to mention hundreds of noncombatants who were lost and hun- 
dreds of Americans and noncombatants whose lives were put in 
jeopardy. 

The British mule boat Armenian was torpedoed on June 28, as a 
result of which 20 Americans are reported missing. 

On July 8, 1915, in a note to Ambassador Gerard, arguing in 
defense of its method of warfare and particularly of its submarine 
commander in the Lusitania case, it is stated: 

The Imperial Government therefore repeats the assurances that American ships 
will not be hindered in the prosecution of legitimate shipping and the lives of American 
citizens on neutral vessels shall not be placed in jeopardy. 

In order to exclude any unforeseen dangers to American passenger steamers, * * * 
the German submarines will be instructed to permit the free and safe passage of such 
passenger steamers when made recognizable by special markings and notified a reason- 
able time in advance. 

Subsequently, the following vessels carrying American citizens 
were attacked by submarines: 

D» of D. 
APR t$ 1917 



WAR WITH THE GERMAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. 3 

S 

British liner Orduna July 9. 

Russian steamer Leo July 9. 

American steamer Leelanaw July 25. 

British passenger liner Arabic August 19. 

British mule ship Nicosian August 19. 

British steamer Hesperian September 4. 

In these attacks 23 Americans lost their lives, not to mention the 
large number whose lives were placed in jeopardy. 

Following these events, conspicuous by their wantonness and 
violation of every rule of humanity and maritime warfare, the Ger- 
man ambassador, by instructions from his Government, on September 
1 gave the following assurances to the Government of the United 
States: 

Liners will not be sunk by our submarines without warning and without safety of 
the lives of noncombatants, provided that, the liners do not try to escape or offer 
resistance. 

On September 9, in a reply as to the submarine attack on the 
Orduna, the German Government renewed these assurances in the 
following language: 

The first attack on the Orduna by a torpedo was not in accordance with the existing 
instructions, which provide that large passenger steamers are to be torpedoed only 
after previous warning and after the rescuing of passengers and crew. The failure 
to observe the instructions was based on an error which is at any rate comprehensible 
and the repetition of which appears to be out of the question, in view of the more 
explicit instructions issued in the meantime. Moreover, the commanders of the 
submarines have been reminded that it is their duty to exercise greater care and to 
observe carefully the orders issued. 

The German Government could not more clearly have stated that 
liners or large passenger steamers would not be torpedoed except 
upon previous warning, and after the passengers and crew had been 
put in places of safety. 

On November 29, the German Government states, in connection 
with the case of the American vessel William, P. Frye: 

* * * the German naval forces will sink only such American vessels as are 
loaded with absolute contraband, when the preconditions provided by the declara- 
tion of London are present. In this the German Government quite snares the view 
of the American Government that all possible care must be taken for the security of 
the crew and passengers of a vessel to be sunk. Consequently the persons found on 
board of a vessel may not be ordered into her lifeboats except when the general con- 
ditions — that is to say, the weather, the condition of the sea, and the neighborhood 
of the coasts — afford absolute certainty that the boats will reach the nearest port. 

Following this accumulative series of assurances, however, there 
seems to have been no abatement in the rigor of submarine warfare, 
for attacks were made in the Mediterranean upon the American 
steamer Communipaw on December 3, the American steamer Petro- 
lite December 5, the Japanese liner YasaJca Maru December 21, 
and the passenger liner Persia December 30. In the sinking of the 
Persia out of a total of some 500 passengers and crew only 165 were 
saved. Among those lost was an American consul traveling to. his 
post. 

On January 7, eight days after the sinking of the Persia, the Ger- 
man Government notified the Government of the United States 
through its ambassador in Washington as follows: 

1. German submarines in the Mediterranean had, from the beginning, ordersto 
conduct cruiser warfare against enemy merchant vessels only in accordance with 



4 WAR "WITH THE IMPERIAL GERMAN GOVERNMENT. 

the general principles of international law, and in particular measures of reprisal, as 
applied in the war zone around the British Isles, were to be excluded. 

2. German submarines are therefore permitted to destroy enemy merchant vessels 
in the Mediterranean — i. e., passenger as well as freight ships as far as they do not try 
to escape or offer resistance — only after passengers and crews have been accorded 
safety. 

Clearly the assurances of the German Government that neutral 
and enemy merchant vessels, passenger as well as freight ships, 
should not be destroyed except upon the passengers and crew being 
accorded safety stood as the official position of the Imperial German 
Government. 

On February 16, 1916, the German ambassador communicated to 
the Department of State an expression of regret for the loss of Ameri- 
can lives on the Lusitania, and proposed to pay a suitable indemnity. 
In the course of this note he said : 

Germany has * . * * limited her submarine warfare because of her long-standing 
friendship with the United States and because by the sinking of the Lusitania, which 
caused the death of citizens of the United States, the German retaliation affected 
neutrals which was not the intention, as retaliation should be confined to enemy 
subjects. 

On March 1, 1916, the unarmed French passenger steamer Patria, 
carrying a number of American citizens was attacked without warn- 
ing. On March 9 the Norwegian bark Silius, riding at anchor in 
Havre Rhodes, was torpedoed by an unseen submarine and one of 
the seven Americans on board was injured. On March 16 the Dutch 
passenger steamer Tubantia was sunk in the North Sea by a torpedo. 
On March 16 the British steamer Berwindale was torpedoed without 
warning off Bantry Island with four Americans on board. On March 
24 the British unarmed steamer Englishman was, after a chase, tor- 
pedoed and sunk by the submarine U 19, as a result of which one 
American on board perished. On March 24 the unarmed French 
cross-channel steamer Sussex was torpedoed without warning, several 
of the 24 American passengers being injured. On March 27 the 
unarmed British liner Manchester Engineer was sunk by an explosion 
without prior warning, with Americans on board, and on March 28 
the British steamer Eagle Point, carrying a Hotchkiss gun, which she 
did not use, was chased, overtaken, and sunk by a torpedo after the 
persons on board had taken to the boats. 

The American note of February 10, 1915, stated that should 
German vessels of war — 

destroy on the high seas an American vessel or the lives of American citizens it would 
be difficult for the Government of the United States to view the act in any other light 
than an indefensible violation of neutral rights which it would be very hard indeed 
to reconcile with the friendly relations so happily subsisting between the two Govern- 
ments — 

and that if such a deplorable situation should arise — 

the Government of the United States would be constrained to hold the Imperial 
Government to a strict accountability for such acts of their naval authorities. 

In the American note of May 13, 1915, the Government stated: 

The Imperial Government will not expect the Government of the United States 
to omit any word or act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of maintaining 
the rights of the United States and its citizens and in safeguarding their free exercise 
and enjoyment. 



WAR WITH THE GERMAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. 5 

In the note of July 21, 1915, the United States Government said 
that — 

Repetition by the commanders of German naval vessels and acts in contravention 
ot tnose rights must be regarded by the Government of the United States, when they 
attect American citizens, as deliberately unfriendly. 

In a communication of April 18, 1916, the American Government 
said: 

If it is still the purpose of the Imperial Government to prosecute relentless and 
indiscriminate warfare against vessels of commerce by the use of submarines without 
regard to what the Government of the United States must consider the sacred and 
indisputable rules of international law and the universally recognized dictates of 
humanity, the Government of the United States is at last forced to the conclusion that 
there is but one course it can pursue. Unless the Imperial Government should not 
immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its present methods of submarine 
warfare against passenger and freight carrying vessels the Government of the United 
btates can have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations with the German Empire 
altogether. ^ 

The German Government replied to this communication on May 
4 1916, givmg definite assurances that new orders had been issued to 
the German naval forces "in accordance with the general principles 
of visit and search and the destruction of merchant vessels recog- 
nized by international law." And this agreement was substantially 
complied with for many months, but finally, on January 31, 1917 
notice was given that after the following day — 

Germany will meet the illegal measures of her enemies by forcibly preventing in a 
zone around Great Britain, France, Italy, and in the eastern Mediterranean all 
navigation that of neutrals included, from and to England and from and to France 
etc. All ships met within that zone will be sunk. 

In view of this Government's warning of April 18, 1916, and the 
Imperial German Government's pledge of May 4 of the same year, 
the Government of the United States, on February 3, 1917, stated to 
the Imperial German Government that — 

In view of this declaration, which withdraws suddenly and without prior intima- 
tion the solemn assurance given in the Imperial Government's note of May 4 1916 
tt **. a Y, ernment has uo alternative consistent with the dignity and honor of the 
United states but to take the course which it explicitly announced in its note of 
April 18, 1916 it would take in the event that the Imperial Government did not 
declare and effect an abandonment of the methods of submarine warfare then em- 
P ™ e £ -a° whlch the Im Penal Government now purpose again to resort 

lhe President has therefore, directed me to announce to your excellency that all 
diplomatic relations between the United States and the German Empire are severed 
and that the American ambassador at Berlin will be immediately withdrawn and' 
in accordance with such announcement, to deliver to your excellency your passports'. 

On February 3 one American ship was sunk, and since that date 
six American ships flying the American flag have been torpedoed 
with a loss of about 13 American citizens. In addition, 50 or more 
foreign vessels of both belligerent and neutral nationality with Ameri- 
cans on board have been torpedoed, in most cases without warning 
with a consequent loss of several American citizens. 

IMPROPER ACTIVITIES OF GERMAN OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATES. 

Since the beginning of the war German officials in the United 
States have engaged in many improper activities in violation of the 
laws of the United States and of their obligations as officials in a 
neutrai country. Count von Bernstorff, the German ambassador 



6 WAR WITH THE IMPERIAL GERMAN GOVERNMENT. 

Capt. von Papen, military attache of the embassy, Capt. Boy-Ed, 
naval attache, as well as various corsular officers and other officials, 
were involved in these activities, which were very widespread. 

The following instances are chosen at random from the cases which 
have come to the knowledge of the Government. 

I. By direct instructions received from the foreign office in Berlin 
the German Embassy in this country furnished funds and issued orders 
to the Indian independence committee of the Indian Nationalist 
Party in the United States. These instructions were usually con- 
veyed to the committee by the military information bureau in New 
York (Von Igel) or by the German consulates in New York and 
San Francisco. 

Dr. Chakrabarty, recently arrested in New York City, received, all 
in all, according to his own admission, some $60,000 from Von Igel. 
He claims that the greater portion of this money was used for defray- 
ing the expenses of the Indian revolutionary propaganda in this 
country, and, as he says, for educational purposes. While this is in 
itself true, it is not all that was done by the revolutionists. They have 
sent representatives to the Far East to stir up trouble in India and 
they have attempted to ship arms and ammunition to India. These 
expeditions have failed. The German Embassy also employed Ernest 
T. Euphrat to carry instructions and information between Berlin and 
Washington under an American passport. 

II. Officers of interned German warships have violated their word 
of honor and escaped. In one instance the German consul at Rich- 
mond furnished the money to purchase a boat to enable six warrant 
officers of the steamer Kronprinz Wilhelm to escape after breaking 
their parole. 

III. Under the supervision of Capt. von Papen and Wolf von Igel, 
Hans von Wedell and, subsequently, Carl Ruroede maintained a reg- 
ular office for the procurement of fraudulent passports for German 
reservists. These operations were directed and financed in part by 
Capt. von Papen and Wolf von Igel. Indictments were returned, 
Carl Ruroede sentenced to the penitentiary,' and a number of German 
officers fined. Von Wedell escaped and has apparently been drowned 
at sea. Von Wedell's operations were also known to "high officials in 
Germany. When Von Wedell became suspicious that forgeries com- 
mitted by him on a passport application had become known, he con- 
ferred with Capt. von Papen and obtained money from him wherewith 
to make his escape. 

IV. James J. F. Archibald, under cover of an American passport 
and in the pay of the German Go vera men t through Ambassador 
Bernstorff, carried dispatches for Ambassador Dumba and otherwise 
engaged in unneutral activities. 

V. Albert Sanders, Charles Wunnonberg, and others, German 
agents in this country, were engaged, among other activities, in 
sending spies to England equipped with American passports, for the 
purpose of securing military information. Several such men have 
been sent. Sanders and Wunnonberg have plead guilty to indict- 
ments brought against them in New York City as has George Voux 
Bacon, one of the men sent abroad by them. 

VI. American passports have been counterfeited and counterfeits 
found on German agents. Baron von Cupenberg, a German agent, 
when arrested abroad, bore a counterfeit of an American passport 



WAE WITH THE GERMAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. 7 

issued to Gustav C. Roeder; Irving Guy Rics received an American 
passport, went to Germany, where the police retained his passports 
for 24 hours. Later a German spy named Carl Paul Julius Hersel 
was arrested in London with a counterfeit of the Ries passport in his 
possession. 

VII. Prominent officials of the Hamburg-American Line, who 
under the direction of Capt. Boy-Ed, endeavored to provide German 
warships at sea with coal and other supplies in violation of the statutes 
of the United States, have been tried and convicted and sentenced to 
the pei itertiary. Some 12 or more vessels were involved in this 
plan . 

VIII. Under the direction of Capt. Boy-Ed and the German 
consulate at San Frarcisco, ard in violation of our law, the steam- 
ships Sacramento and Mazailan carried supplies from San Francisco 
to German war vessels. The Olsen and Mahoney, which was engaged 
in a similar enterprise, was detained. The money for these ventures 
was furnished by Capt. Boy-Ed. Indictments have been returned 
in connection with these matters against a large number of persons. 

IX. Werner Horn, a lieutenant in the German Reserve, was fur- 
nished funds by ('apt. Franz von Papen and sent, with dynamite, 
under orders to blow up the International Bridge at Vanceboro, Me. 
He was partially successful. He is now under indictment for the 
unlawful transportation of dynamite on passenger trains ami is in 
jail awaiting trial following the dismissal of his appeal by the Suoreme 
Court. 

X. Capt. von Papen furnished funds to Albert Kaltsehmidt, of 
Detroit, who is involved in a plot to blow up a factory at Walker- 
ville, Canada, and the armory at Windsor, Canada. 

XI. Robert Fay, Walter Scholtz, and Paul Daeche kave been con- 
victed and sentenced to the penitentiary and three others are under 
indictment for conspiracy to prepare bombs and attach them to 
allied ships leaving New York Harbor. Fay, who was the princi- 
pal in this scheme, was a German soldier. He testified that, he 
received finances from a German secret agent in Brussels, and told 
von Papen of his plans, who advised him that his device was not 
practicable, but that he should go ahead with it, and if he could 
make it work he would consider it. 

XII. Under the direction of ('apt. von Papen and Wolf von Igel, 
Dr. Walter T. Scheele, Capt. von Kleist, ('apt. Wolpert, of the Atlas 
Steamship Co., and Capt. Rode, of the Hamburg- American Line, man- 
ufactured incendiary bombs and placed 'them on board allied vessels. 
The shells in which the chemicals were placed were made on board 
the steamship Frederick der Grosse. Scheele was furnished $1,000 
by von Igel wherewith to become a fugitive from justice. 

XIII. Capt. Franz Rintelen, a reserve officer in the German Navy, 
came to this country secretly for the purpose of preventing the expor- 
tation of munitions of war to the allies and of getting to Germany 
needed supplies. He organized and financed Labor's National PeaCe 
Council in an effort to bring about an embargo on the shipment of 
munitions of war, tried to bring about strikes, etc. 

XIV. Consul General Bopp, at San Francisco, Vice Consul General 
Von Schaick, Baron George Wilhelm von Brincken (an employee of the 
consulate), Charles C. Crowley, and Mrs. Margaret W. Cornell (secret 
agents of the German consulate at San Francisco) have been con- 



8 WAR WITH THE IMPERIAL GERMAN GOVERNMENT. 

victed of conspiracy to send agents into Canada to blow up railroad 
tunnels and bridges, and to wreck vessels sailing from Pacific coast 
ports with war material for Russia and Japan. 

XV. Paul Koenig, head of the secret-service work of the Hamburg- 
American Line, by direction of his superior officers, largely augmented 
his organization and under the direction of von Papen, Boy-ed, and 
Albert carried on secret work for the German Government. He 
secured and sent spies to Canada to gather information concerning 
the Welland Canal, the movements of Canadian troops to England, 
bribed an employee of a bank for information concerning shipments 
to the allies, sent spies to Europe on American passports to secure 
military information, and was involved with Cant, von Papen in 
plans to place bombs on ships of the allies leaving New York Harbor, 
etc. Von Papen, Boy-ed, and Albert had frequent conferences with 
Koenig in his office, at theirs, and at outside places. Koenig and 
certain of his associates are under indictment. 

XVI. Capt. von Papen, Capt. Hans Tauscher, Wolf von Igel, and a 
number of German reservists organized an expedition to go into 
Canada, destroy the Welland Canal, and endeavor to terrorize Cana- 
dians, in order to delay the sending of troops from Canada to Europe. 
Indictments have been returned against these persons. Wolf von 
Igel furnished Fritzen, one of the conspirators in this case, money on 
which to flee from New York City. Fritzen is now in jail in New 
York City. 

XVII. With money furnished by official German representatives 
in this country, a cargo of arms and ammunition was purchased and 
shipped on board the schooner Annie Larsen. Through the activities 
of German official representatives in this country and other Germans 
a number of Indians were procured to form an expedition to go on 
the steamship Maverick, meet the Annie Larsen, take over her cargo, 
and endeavor to bring about a revolution in India. #This plan in- 
volved the sending of a German officer to drill Indian recruits and 
the entire plan was managed and directed by Capt. von Papen, 
Capt. Hanz Tauscher, and other official German representatives in 
this country. 

XVIII. Gustav Stahl, a German reservist, made an affidavit which 
he admitted was false, regarding the armament of the Lusitania, 
which affidavit was forwarded to the State Department by Ambas- 
sador Bernstorff. He plead guilty to an indictment charging per- 
jury, and was sentenced to the penitentiary. Koenig, herein men- 
tioned, was active in securing this affidavit. 

XIX. The German embassy organized, directed, and financed the 
Hans Libeau Employment Agency, through which extended efforts 
were made to induce employees of manufacturers engaged in supply- 
ing various kinds of material to the allies to give up their positions 
in an effort to interfere with the output of such manufacturers. 
Von Papen indorsed this organization as a military measure, and it 
was hoped through its propaganda to cripple munition factories. 

XX. The German Government has assisted financially a number of 
newspapers in this country in return for pro-German propaganda. 

XXI. Many facts have been secured indicating that Germans have 
aided and encouraged financially and otherwise the activities of one or 
the other factions in Mexico, the purpose being to keep the United States 
occupied along its borders and to prevent the exportation of muni- 



WAR WITH THE GERMAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. 9 

tions of war to the allies; see, in this connection, the activities of 
Rintelen, Stallforth, Kopf, the German consul at Chihuahua, Krum- 
Hellen, Felix Somerfeld (Villa's representative at New York), Carl 
Heynen, Gustav Steinberg, and many others. 

ATTACKS ON SHIPS OF THE COMMISSION FOR RELIEF IN BELGIUM IN 
VIOLATION OF GERMAN UNDERTAKINGS. 

When the Commission for Relief in Belgium began its work in 
October, 1914, it received from the German authorities, through the 
various Governments concerned, definite written assurances that 
ships engaged in carrying cargoes for the relief of the civil population 
of Belgium and northern France should be immune from attack. In 
order that there may be no room for attacks upon these ships through 
misunderstanding, each ship is given a safe-conduct by the German 
diplomatic representative in the country from which it sails, and, in 
addition, bears conspicuously upon its sides markings which have 
been agreed upon with the German authorities; furthermore, similar 
markings are painted upon the decks of the ships in order that they 
may be readily recognizable by aeroplanes. 

Upon the rupture of relations with Germany the commission was 
definitely assured by the German Government that its ships would 
be immune from attack by following certain prescribed courses and 
conforming to the arrangements previously made. 

Despite these solemn assurances there have been several unwar- 
ranted attacks upon ships under charter to the commission. 

On March 7 or 8 the Norwegian ship Storstad, carrying 10,000 tons 
of corn from Buenos Aires to Rotterdam for the commission was 
sunk in broad daylight by a German submarine despite the con- 
spicuous markings of the commission which the submarine could not 
help observing. The Storstad was repeatedly shelled without warn- 
ing and finally torpedoed. 

On March 19 the steamships Tunisie and Haelen, under charter 
to the commission proceeded to the United States under safe con- 
ducts and guaranties from the German minister at The Hague and 
bearing conspicuous markings of the commission, were attacked 
without warning by a German submarine outside the danger zone 
(56° 15' north, 5° 32' east). The ships were not sunk, but on the 
Haelen seven men were killed, including the first and third officers; 
a port boat was sunk; a hole was made in the port bunker above the 
water line; and the ships sustained sundry damages to decks and 
engines. 

INDIGNITIES TO AMERICAN OFFICIALS. 

Various consular officers have suffered indignities and humiliation 
at the hands of German frontier authorities. The following are 
illustrations : 

Mr. Pike, consul at St. Gaul, Switzerland, on proceeding to his 
post with a passport duly indorsed by German officials in New York 
and Copenhagen, was on November 26, 1916, subjected to great 
indignities at Warnemunde on the German frontier. Mr. Pike 
refused to submit to search of his person, the removal of his clothing, 
or the seizure of his official reports and papers of a private and con- 
fidential nature. He was therefore obliged to return to Copenhagen. 



10 WAR WITH THE IMPERIAL GERMAN GOVERNMENT. 

Mr. Murphy, the consul general at Sofia, and his wife, provided 
with passports from the German legations at The Hague and Copen- 
hagen, were on two occasions stripped and searched and subjected 
to great humiliation at the same frontier station. No consideration 
was given them because of their official position. 

Such has been the behavior on the part of German officials not- 
withstanding that consular officials hold positions of dignity and 
responsibility under their Government and that during the present 
war Germany has been placed under deep ooligation to American 
consular officers by their efforts in the protection of German interests. 

INHUMAN TREATMENT ACCORDED YARROWDALE PRISONERS BY GER- 
MAN AUTHORITIES. 

On January 19 Mr. Gerard telegraphed that the evening papers 
contained a report that the English steamer )'<trrowdale had been 
brought to Swinemunde as prize with 469 prisoners on board taken 
from ships captured by German auxiliary cruisers; that among 
these prisoners were 103 neutrals; and that such of these as had 
been taken on board enemy ships and had accepted pay on such 
ships would be held as prisoners of war. 

After repeated inquiries Mr. Gerard learned that there were among 
the Yarrowdale prisoners 72 men claiming American citizenship. 

On February 4, Mr. Gerard was informed by Count Montgelas of 
the foreign office that the Americans taken on the Yarrowdale would 
be released immediately on the ground that they could not have 
known at the time of sailing that it was Germany's intention to treat 
armed merchantmen as ships of war. 

Despite this assurance the prisoners were not released, but some 
time prior to February 17, the German minister for foreign affairs 
told the Spanish ambassador that the American prisoners from the 
Yarrowdale would be liberated "in a very short time." 

Upon receipt of this information a formal demand was made 
through the Spanish ambassador at Berlin for the immediate release 
of these men. The message sent the Spanish ambassador was as 
follows : 

If Yarrowdale prisoners have not been released, please make formal demand in the 
name of the United States for their immediate release. If they are not promptly 
released and allowed to cross the frontier without further delay, please state to the 
foreign minister that this policy of the Imperial Government, if continued, apparently 
without the slightest justification, will oblige the Government of the United States 
to consider what measures it may be necessary to take in order to obtain satisfaction 
for the continued detention of these innocent American citizens. 

On February 25 the American ambassador at Madrid was informed 
by the Spanish foreign office that the Yarrowdale prisoners had been 
released on the 16th instant. 

The foregoing statement appears to have been based on erroneous 
information, for no further report on the subject has been received. 

The men finally reached Zurich, Switzerland, on the afternoon of 
March 11. 

Official reports now in the possession of the Department of State 
indicate that these American sailors were from the moment of their 
arrival in Germany, on January 3, subjected to the most cruel and 
heartless treatment. Although the weather was very cold they were 
given no suitable clothes, and many of them stood about for hours 



WAR WITH THE GERMAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. 11 

barefoot in the snow. The food supplied them was utterly inade- 
quate. After one cup of coffee in the morning almost the only article 
of food given them was boiled frosted cabbage, with mush once a 
week and beans once a week. One member of the crew states that 
he was severely kicked in the abdomen by a German officer without 
provocation. He appears still to be suffering severely from this 
assault. Another sailor is still suffering from a wound caused by 
shrapnel fired by the Germans at an open boat in which he and his 
companions had taken refuge after the sinking of the Georgic. 

All of the men stated that their treatment had been so inhuman 
that should a submarine be sighted in the course of their voyage 
home they would prefer to be drowned rather than have any further 
experience in German prison camps. 

It is significant that the inhuman treatment accorded these Amer- 
ican sailors occurred a month before the break in relations and while 
Germany was on every occasion professing the most cordial frieni- 
ship for the United States. 

INTERFERENCE WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OF THE EMBASSY AT 

BERLIN. 

After the suspension of diplomatic relations, the German authori- 
ties cut off the telephone at the embassy at Berlin and suppressed 
Mr. Gerard's communication by telegraph and post. Mr. Gerard 
was not even permitted to send to American consular officers in 
Germany the instructions he had received for them from the Depart- 
ment of State. Neither was he allowed to receive his mail. Just 
before he left Berlin the telephonic communication at the embassy 
was restored and some telegrams and letters were delivered. No 
apologies were offered, however. 

GERMAN INTRIGUES TO INVOLVE THE UNITED STATES IN WAR WITH 

MEXICO AND JAPAN. 

The Government of the United States is in possession of instruc- 
tions addressed by the German minister for foreign affairs to the 
German minister to Mexico concerning a proposed alliance of Ger- 
many, Japan, and Mexico to make war on the United States. The 
text of this document is as follows: 

Berlin, January 19, 1917 . 

On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In 
spite of this it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. 

If this attempt is not successful we propose an alliance on the following basis with 
Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give 
general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost 
territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settle- 
ment. 

You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest 
confidence as soon as it is certain there will be an outbreak of war with the United 
States, and suggest that the President of Mexico on his own initiative should com- 
municate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time 
offer to mediate between Germany and Japan. 

Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of 
ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few 
months. 

(Signed) Zimmermann. 



VIEWS OF MR. SHACKLEFORD. 

I conscientiously believe that this resolution should not be adopted. 
I can not shift my responsibility to the shoulders of the President. 
I must do my duty as I see it, let the consequences be what they may. 

It grieves me deeply that in this instance I can not agree with our 
beloved President, for whom I have such profound respect and con- 
sideration. In matters of less moment I have often heretofore and 
would again yield my judgment to his, but this measure involves 
hundreds of thousands of American lives for which I am responsible. 
If I should falter in the performance of my duty now, I should feel 
that their blood was upon my hands. 

I am not unmindful that the course I am pursuing will subject me 
to much inconvenience and distress. Inflamed by a sensational press 
many who have been my closest friends will turn their backs upon 
me, and newspapers will revile me; but in dealing with the lives of 
the young men 01 my country I must keep a conscience void of offense 
in the sight of God and man. 

I have felt constrained to make every possible effort to avert the 
threatened conflict. If a majority shall unhappily hold a different 
view and precipitate war, then I shall stand firmly ready to join in 
every step which may tend to bring speedy victory to my country. 

I am not what, in common parlance, is called a pacifist. I am not 
for peace at any price. I would unhesitatingly vote for war in any 
case where such a course, consistent with justice, would be to our 
interest. I would not vote for war for any other reason than to 
promote our country's interest. 

Both sides of the European conflict have flagrantly violated our 
rights, but they were striking at each other and not at us. When 
the struggle is over both of them should be required to make such 
reparation as they are able to make. No war would be required to 
accomplish that. 

I have not the slightest doubt that we should be victorious if we 
should enter the war, but what would be the fruits of the victory? 
Germany is already so impoverished that she could not pay us an 
indemnity. We do not desire any of her territory ; and if we did, 
England and her allies would not let us have it. 

Some say that we have been wronged and should fight to vindicate 
our honor. I concur in a sentiment expressed by another that no 
nation can dishonor us. We only could dishonor ourselves. The 
nation that wrongs us dishonors herself, not us. It is no dishonor for 
an individual, or for a government, to overlook injuries which it 
has received. 

It is contended that we should enter the war for the purpose of 
spreading the cause of free government. I do not believe it is the 
mission of the United States to meddle with the internal affairs of 
European countries. Let each people choose its own form of gov- 
ernment and bear the responsibility of defending and maintaining 
it. But if I entertained a different view I should nevertheless doubt 

13 



14 WAR WITH THE IMPERIAL GERMAN GOVERNMENT. 

our ability to accomplish much for the cause of democracy in an 
alliance with the King of England, the King of Servia, the King of 
Roumania, the King of Montenegro, the King of Belgium, the King 
of Italy, and I he Emperor of Japan. 

Neither do L think that the United States should become a party 
to disputes between other countries. Naturally our indignation is 
moused when we see one country inflicting wrong upon another. 
The civilized world was shocked w hen German armies began march- 
ing across Belgium; when France and England seized Greece and 
converted it into a military camp of their own ; when a few years ago 
the British, for their own aggrandizement overthrew the South 
African Republic. There has scarcely been a day since our Govern- 
ment was formed that some country was not inflicting wrong upon 
some other country. Had we entered into all of these controversies 
we long ago should have either lost our sovereiguty or become a 
military despotism. 

Our forefathers, looking back over the tragic history of the world, 
fashioned for us a free government, and George Washington, our 
great first President, gave us a chart by which we might safely sail 
the stormy sea upon which all other republics had been wrecked. 
He gave us this admonition: 

My ardent desire is and my aim has been to comply strictly with all pf our engage- 
ments, foreign and domestic, but to keep the United States free from political con- 
nections with every other country; independent of them all, and under the influence 
of none. In a word. I want American character, that the powers of Europe maybe 
convinced that we act for ourselves and not for others. This, in my judgment, is the 
only way to be respected abroad and happy at home. 

Following that policy our Republic has, in the space of a century, 

frown to be the greatest free government that ever blessed the world, 
can not believe that it Would now be to our interest to abandon the 
traditional policy which has brought us so much glory and happiness 
to enter into intrigues and alliances with European countries whose 
jealousies keep them in constant conflict. 
Respectfully submitted. 

Dorsey W. Shackleford. 






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